Ireland supports Egypt’s counter-terror efforts

CAIRO – 9 July 2017: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a phone call from Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney on Sunday who conveyed his condolences over the Friday terrorist attack on a military checkpoint in southern Rafah which left at least 26 army servicemen dead or injured, according to a Sunday statement by the Foreign Ministry.

Coveney expressed his country’s support to Egypt in confronting terrorism, and praised the Egyptian government’s efforts in fighting extremist groups nationally and internationally, especially through its membership at the UN Security Council and its chairmanship of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee, the statement said.

The two officials discussed means of developing bilateral relations between the two countries in all domains as well as means of coordination on multilateral issues, especially regarding the ongoing preparations for the EU-Africa Summit 2017 to be hosted by Cote d'Ivoire this year, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said.

The spokesman added that the talks between the two ministers dealt with a number of issues between the two countries. The two sides agreed on promoting relations between Egypt and Ireland in the coming period.